2009 NFL Picks: New England Patriots AFC East Betting Odds

by Thomas Jensen on Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

2009 NFL Picks New England Patriots AFC East Betting Odds: With Tom Brady’s expected return to form for 2009, the New England Patriots are looking for some salvation. And as long as Brady, the decade’s most decorated gunslinger can stay on the field, Head Coach Bill Belichick’s squad will be a dangerous one. While the 2009 roster looks little like the one that led the franchise to unprecedented history when the Patriots became the first team to go undefeated during a 16-game regular season in 2007-2008. Any Brady-led team is one worth counting on. The 2009 NFL Picks experts at online sportsbook SBG Global have the New England Patriots +300 odds to win the 2010 Super Bowl.

Pros: Good things happen any time a healthy Tom Brady returns to the field. The poised pocket passer is one of the brightest sharpest, most accurate quarterbacks the game has ever seen and the Patriots are just happy to have the three-time Super Bowl Champion back behind the line of scrimmage. In Randy Moss and Wes Welker, Brady has a pair of extremely explosive receivers capable of breaking loose at any moment and Brady doesn’t need much time to find them. Perhaps no one is anticipating the quarterback’s return like Moss, who broke Jerry Rice’s single-season touchdown reception record of 22 with 23 during the historical 2007 campaign. New England is also excited for the return of its freakishly athletic fourth-year running back Laurence Maroney. Maroney’s return gives balance to an already potent offense and if the running back can return to form, he will make it harder for opposing safeties to double-team Moss and Welker. Defensively, the Patriots are excited about the return of second-year linebacker and 2008 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Jerod Mayo, who led all Patriots last season with 128 total tackles. Alongside of Mayo will be Adalius Thomas and crafty veteran Teddy Bruschi, who, if healthy, will make up one of the most feared linebacking crews in the league.

Cons: After missing the entire 2008 season with a torn ACL, no one can be sure that Brady will ever be the Hall of Fame quarterback he was prior to going down. If Brady can’t duplicate past success, the Patriots, who dealt away Brady’s former back-up Matt Cassel after a stellar 2008 campaign, are without a clear-cut resolution. In addition, Maroney’s repaired shoulder will be tested early when the bruising running back is forced to bump pads with some of the AFC’s toughest linemen. Taylor is no spring chicken, and if Maroney isn’t up to the task, Belichick will need to look elsewhere for his every-down running back. Defensively, age is one of New England’s biggest concerns, as it has been in years past. Bruschi has been in the league since 1996 and his legs are not what they once were. Additionally, the losses of linebacker Mike Vrabel (Kansas City) and safety Rodney Harrison (retirement) won’t go unnoticed on third-down situations.

Outlook: The odds of another injury-ridden season are not likely for a team that prides itself in toughness, and should Brady and Maroney find ways to stay on the field, Belichick will have all his tools in place for the coming season. Although duplicating the 2007 will indeed be a daunting task, look for Miss and Brady to recapture some of their old magic and lead the franchise toward an AFC title. In order to do so, however, much of the onus will rest on the shoulders of a shaky defensive unit.

Draft Overview: After trading both of their first-round draft picks away, additional picks in the later rounds, it was clear that Belichick and the Patriots didn’t feel a pressing need to draft for immediate impact. In the second round, the Patriots selected safety Patrick Chung (drafted No. 34, Oregon). The retirement of Harrison, who had patrolled the secondary position since his arrival in 2003, left New England with a void and the Patriots addressed their need for aid at safety first. Chung is a consistent and versatile safety who fits the New England bill to a tee. Expect to see Chung in a New England uniform for many years to come. The Patriots added depth to their offense in the later rounds when they selected sure-handed wide receiver Brandon Tate (University of North Carolina, draft No. 3) and quarter Julian Edelman (Kent State, draft No. 232), both of whom are players that went deeper than expected.

Overall Outlook: While the losses of Vrabel and Harrison will inevitably hurt the Patriots, especially in those pressure-packed situations when the veterans proved so valuable, the return of Brady makes New England an instant Super Bowl contender. There is no denying that under Brady’s guidance, the Patriots know how to win, and if the Pats’ core of experience superstars can stay on the field in 2009, Belichick has the mastermind necessary to maximize the production from his strong pool of talent.

Intangibles: If Brandy and Maroney can remain healthy, look for the Patriots to find themselves contending for another Super Bowl this winter. In special teams, place kicker Stephen Gostkowski, who went 36-40 in 2008, could be a difference maker in late game situations. His accuracy from beyond 40 yards is staggering and he could prove valuable in close games in late fall.